Explosion Box

I have had to move this page from my blog to here due to link restrictions (certain links not allowed and were disabled). I hope no one minds, but I felt all the info was important to share.

A while back, some photos were posted titled “box in a box” by Belinda (link below as well as tutorials)).

The concept was three boxes of three different sizes. Remove the box lid and the sides of each box collapsed to reveal another box. So the bigger box is what you see, but take off the lid which is what holds each box shape together, and there is another box of a smaller size placed kitty corner, remove that lid, and there is a third smaller box placed kitty corner. When all three boxes are open and flat, the sides now all laying down, looks like a flower with a lot of petals.

Other terms used to describe these boxes were “exploding box”, “exploding memory box”, “scrapbook in a box”.

The true historical term to describe these boxes is “etui box”. They were originally made of fabric and padding and housed needlework supplies to take on the go in the days of yore. There are many patterns available to create such boxes for needleworkers.

These paper/cardstock boxes can be made to house a fold down, knock down scrapbook.
Watch this quick video of the concept (right click open new window).

Basically, you cut three or four cross shapes of various sizes for each box on cardstock.

Here are some basic written instructional tutorials to help you create your own masterpiece:

Examples and Inspirations

Belinda’s Exploding Box as mentioned above. Very clever engineering as the box can be pulled shut. Very nice how each box is kitty corner to the previous one giving it a flowered layered look. More pictures. Check out her gallery!

Scrapninny — interesting that the entire bottom is a whole piece of 12×12 paper and the box has four layers to it.